Mental health and work
Awareness is growing about the importance of how the work environment, in particular the psychosocial environment, can impact the mental health of workers. Awareness is also growing about the differing work accommodation and return-to-work needs of workers with mental—versus physical—health conditions. Our research aims to identify and measure psychosocial hazards and explore how dimensions of the psychosocial work environment can promote positive mental health or lead to poorer mental health. Our research also explores workplace and system-level strategies for helping workers with mental health conditions—including post-traumatic stress disorders—stay in and return to work.
Latest findings
Access to mental health treatment among workers with physical injuries
A substantial proportion of workers with compensation claims for a work-related musculoskeletal injury also experience a serious mental condition. However, a minority of these workers receive treatment for their mental health conditions.
Poorer post-injury experiences lead to worse RTW outcomes for psychological claimants
Injured workers on leave due to psychological injuries report poorer experiences and interactions throughout the return-to-work process. According to an IWH study, these experiences are interconnected, leading to longer time off from work.
What workplace interventions help workers with MSDs, pain and mental health conditions return to work?
This update of a previous systematic review sets out to find workplace-based interventions that are effective in helping workers with musculoskeletal, pain-related and/or mental health conditions return to work.Featured guide
Learn what to do when you, your co-workers or employees experience depressive symptoms at work.
Featured resource
This summary of an IWH research project outlines challenges in return to work within police services related to three key themes: accommodation, communication and trust-building, all within the culture and context of policing.
